The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-19
UGLY IF NOT vENoMoUs.
TWO Genuine Fire Proof Salamanders
Taken to New York.
From the Neto York Times.

The salamander has turned up at last. In
this wear 1887, the nineteenth century after
Christ, the far-famed beast, that made itself
30 generally disliked in the Jurassic period
that it has constantly been remembered in
history, both sacred and profane, and in
myth, tradition and fable, through all the
centuries since men used signs for writing,
has at last appeared in New York city.
There is no doubt of his authenticity. The
old original fireproof salamander, two of
him in fact, can now be seen by anybody,
admission free, at the depot of Charles
Reiche g. Bro, dealers in rare animals, 50
Park row.
The existence of the salamander has long
been disputed. In spite of the stories of
Pliny, Culver, and Scheuchzer, the Swiss
naturalist, concerning him, the public mind
has steadily refused to take Sally into its
confidence. When Prof. Tommaso Ochil-
tree, of the leaning tower of Pisa, averred
before the Smithsonian institution that he
had driven two salamanders tandem through
Texas political campaign, the public still
remained obdurate, despite such emf
nent authority in snake stories. The
surprise of Reiche & Co. can
therefore be imagined when there ar
rived to them few days since from Japan,
via Germany, by the steamer Elbe on her
last trip, not one salamander, but two, i'll
healthy and kicking state of life. 1t has
been believed by the most credulous that if
saamander did exist there was only one
of him at the outside. That like the tidal
wave, the sea serpent, the millennium, and
the joker in euchre pack, his destiny was
that of the singular number. But, i'll spite
of belief and fables, there were two verita-
BILE salamanders in a wooden tub, and the
German man-of-all-work of the firm, Mr..
Reiche being sick, has been scared half to
death ever since.
han WAC nor tfD1t 10 frlfo,
view the fabulous beasts yesterday morning,
they were found in room on the second
floor reposing in a circular tin tub about
feet in diameter, in which there was inches
of water. The bottom of the tub was
covered with light colored pebbles In the
water were two things, both alive, which
are probably the least beautiful living OBJ
iects in all creation. The larger is 3 feet in
length, about one-half being tail. 1t looks
like d centenarian tadpol0 or an animated
stuffed club. It is a chocolate brown in
color and completely covered with large
black warts. 1t has eyes, for its motions
are intelligent, but the orbs are as invisible
as Owney Geogheghan's chickens after a
fight. Its head is like a sandwich, for it is
all mouth. When it lifts the cover from its
frog trap the ceremony is exactly like re-
moving the upper slice of bread. A cream
colored cavern is displayed, cream-pink
tongue, and two rows of needle-like teeth
SuInclenu Ill NUMBER 10 dispose OF Inlrd
avenue dinner without effort. There is
nothing in the world that is uglier than the
big salamander with its mouth shut except
the same warty toy with its mouth open.
Beside it is another of dirty black color,
likewise profusely enameled with warts 1t
is built on the same model, and the seeker
after ugliness has difficulty in making his
choice. 1t is about 30 inches in length, and
lies fiat ON the bottom Of the water, now and
then emitting bubble of highly poisonous
air. At least the German attendant thinks
it is poisonous, and he remains in the room
only under protest.
His fear of the two beasts would be ludic-
rous If it were not so serious a matter to
him. When the animals arrived word was
sent along with them from the German
house of Reiche & Bro, at Alfeld, in Hano-
yer, that the two things had been captured
by one of the house travelling men in Japan;
that they were unknown to the books on
reptllla, and We're beyond doubt veritable
Salamanders. Notwithstanding this, the
gentlemen of the firm here tried all the en-
clycopedias and geological records for in
formation and obtained some startling facts
from Pliny, which made a deep impression
on the keepers mind. Pliny says that of
all venomous animals the salamander is by
far the most dangerous, for while other rep
tiles attack individuals only, the
salamander is able to destroy whole
nations unless they take proper precautions
against it; that if it crawls up tree it fatal
ly infects all the fruit; that if it touches
with its foot the wood upon which bread is
baked it poisons the bread, and that it turns
into deadly poison all the water which
touches it. A circular which Reiche &
Bros have issued questions, in perfectly
food faith, whether or not salamanders now
living may not be the cause of malignant
epldemics, and all the facts combined have
made the keeper as wary in approaching
them as if they were animated nitro-glyce-
rlne. When the reporter attempted to stir
the water yesterday the keepers eyes
widened and his hair rose.
"Dond; for Colts sake, dond" said he.
why not"
DOT water is boison. You pc deaf in no
tne."
Nonsense"
well, dots So We change der water, put
We don'd touch it NIT our hants. We bump
1t bud init leedle bump"
And where do you put it!"
'Trow it in der sewer.h
But what right have .yous You'll be
poisoning the whole bay"
Il can't helb i'd" be said with honest
obstinacy; Mr.. Reiche is sick He don'd
tell me noding, und do my work."
The animals have a serious interest for the
scientist from the fact that they are very
rare, and as yet entirely unrecorded. 1t IS
not known whether the two are male and
female, first cousins, or remotely related
Nor is it likely, until the adventurous inves-
tgator appears, that anybody will dare
touch them, SO deeply grounded is the belief
IN their very venomous character. Reiche
d Bro. state that for many years they
nave been trying to get specimens from ia
pan, where the inhabitants speak of them
wlth bated breath and decline absolutely,
from superstitous fear, either to point out
thelr habitat or assist in their capture. These
TWO We're captured in a lake in the crater of
an extinct japanese volcano, over 5000 feet
ABOVE the sea- 1t is more than probable
that hike the anthropoid ape, which has dis
appeared everywhere save an Java, these
giant lizards or salamandr@ are leftover
remnants OF the geological crazy-quilt of
Eden, and represent an otherwise extinct
family OF proceeding era. -..-.
-, what Reiche & Bro. will do with them
they do not know. There appears to be an
impression that nobody will accept them as
a gift. They are not at all adapted for
young ladies' pets, Notwithstanding the fact
mat beside them a pug dog is a sensuous
VISION OF beauty, rare and ethereal. They
VIII not do for show purposes until it is set
sled whether or not they can poison all the
bread IN bakery by simply squirting at it
rom across the street. The present prospect
~ tnat they will starve TO death, as the large
one SIVifOS and Y,oAI1ac oh